11 Photographers Who Capture the Beautiful Movement of Dancers

Elegant, energetic, and dramatic dance photography is both a visual treat and a study of movement. Aiming to convey the spirit and skill of their graceful subjects, photographers often opt to shoot dancers mid-motion, showcasing their graceful gestures by freezing a moment in time. Here, we explore the work of 11 of our favorite dance photographers, paying particular attention to the unique ways each captures their muses’ exquisite movements.

To put a contemporary twist on traditional dance photography, many of the featured photographers—including Omar Z. Robles, Mohamed Taher, Lisa Tomasetti, and Dane Shitagi (of the Ballerina Project)—place dancers outdoors, in everyday environments. Others, like Vadim Stein and Ken Browar & Deborah Ory (of NYC Dance Project), have a more minimalist approach to the craft. And some, like Eric Paré and Alexander Yakovlev, inventively employ unique props that more clearly trace each dancer’s motions. Regardless of style and no matter the method, this group of photographers perfectly presents the style and grace of dancers in motion.

See the ways in which the dance photographers study of the movement of dancers below.